used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
awedadjectiveUS /ɔːd/
inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
bellowedverbUS /ˈbeloʊd/
past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading "Hold your tongues!" bellowed the contractor.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
contractornounUS /ˈkɑːntræktər/
someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
From this reading "Hold your tongues!" bellowed the contractor.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
DRIFTverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
hatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Hold your tongues!" bellowed the contractor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
minernounUS /ˈmaɪnər/
laborer who works in a mine
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
minersnounUS /ˈmaɪnərz/
plural of “miner” — laborer who works in a mine
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
a particular point in time
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The candles on the hats of the miners had been extinguished by the explosion.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
POWDER-WRECKED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
quickeradverbUS /ˈkwɪkər/
more quickly
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading IN THE POWDER-WRECKED DRIFT For a moment those outside the end of the drift stood in awed silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading "Hold your tongues!" bellowed the contractor.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Nothing will cause an underground miner to lose his head quicker than being plunged into sudden darkness.
yellnounUS /jel/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Several of them set up a terrified yell.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Hold your tongues!" bellowed the contractor.
